Josh Hader, a left-handed closer who teamed up with Gold Glove winner Kim Ha-seong at the San Diego Padres in the U.S. Major League last year, transferred to the Houston Astros as a free agent.
Major American media outlets, including MLB.com, the official website of the U.S. Major League Baseball, reported on the 20th
(Korean time) that Hader had signed a contract with Houston for a total of $95 million (approximately KRW 127.1 billion) for a five-year contract period, citing sources.
Hader will receive an annual salary of $19 million (about 25.4 billion won) from Houston from the 2024 season to the 2028 season. 토토사이트
It is reported that the contract does not include an opt-out clause allowing the player to re-qualify as a free agent within the contract period.
However, Hader did specify in his contract that he retains the right to refuse trades against the 29 major league teams.
If you win the Mariano Rivera Award, given to the best closing pitcher in the major leagues, you will also receive incentives.
The five-year contract that Hader received from Houston, worth a total of $95 million, is actually the highest contract contract in the history of major league relief pitchers.
Edwin Dias signed a 5-year contract with the New York Mets in the Stove League last year for $102 million (approximately 136.425 billion won)
but part of the amount will be received as a deferred payment after the end of the contract period.
Houston owner Jim Crane said, “(Hader) will be a great addition to our bullpen. No matter where he pitches in the 8th or 9th inning, it will be a good opportunity for the team to challenge for the playoffs and World Series.” revealed.
Hader’s strength was that he was born in 1994 and showed outstanding performance throughout his career at such a young age that he turns 30 this year.
He was selected as the most valuable reliever in the Major League Stove League free agent market.
Hader graduated from Old Mill High School in 2012 and joined the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball Draft, No. 582 overall.
As can be seen from the number of draft picks, he was not evaluated as a top prospect.
Hader’s baseball career reached a turning point when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2015 season. In the 2017 season,
he made his dream big league debut and achieved outstanding results with 35 games, 47⅔ innings, 2 wins, 3 losses, 12 holds, and an ERA of 2.08.
Hader has been on a roll since then in Milwaukee. He pitched well in the 2018 season with 55 games, 81⅓ innings, 6 wins, 1 loss, 12 saves, 21 holds, and an ERA of 2.43, and in the 2019 season, 61 games, 75⅔ innings, 3 wins, 5 losses, 37 saves, 6 holds, and an ERA of 2.62.
In the 2020 season shortened pennant race due to the novel coronavirus pandemic (Corona 19), Hader performed poorly with 21 games, 19 innings, 1 win, 2 losses, 13 saves, and an ERA of 3.79, but Hader’s slump did not last long. In the 2021 season, 60 games, 58 ⅔ innings, 4 wins, 2 losses, 34 saves, and an ERA of 1.23, he regained his status as a special closer.
In the 2022 season, he moved to a new home via trade. Milwaukee, a small market club, was not confident in covering Hader’s soaring value. Hader wore a San Diego uniform during the 2022 season.
Hader fell into a slump after moving to San Diego, but did his part in the postseason.
He earned saves in games 2 and 3 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading the team to the championship series for the first time in 24 years.
In the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he earned the save with a perfect pitch with three strikeouts in the first inning of Game 2.
He showed off his impeccable skills as a closer than in the regular league.
Hader shined alone on the mound in San Diego in the 2023 season.
He performed well in 61 games, 56⅓ innings, 2 wins, 3 losses, 33 saves, and an ERA of 1.28. In a situation where San Diego failed to advance to the postseason,
Hader’s good pitching was the only consolation.
San Diego obviously needed Hader, but they were unable to open their wallets due to poor performance and worsening finances after large investments in recent years.
Hey De gave up early and took his foot off the hook.
San Diego instead turned to the Asian market to strengthen its bullpen. A five-year contract was signed with Yuki Matsui,
the best closing pitcher in Japanese professional baseball, for a total of $28 million (approximately 36.4 billion won).
Matsui played a total of 501 games and 659⅔ innings, achieving 25 wins, 46 losses, and 236 saves, becoming the youngest player ever to reach 200 saves.
He was a five-time All-Star and posted a 1.11 WHIP, 860 Ks, and a 2.40 earned run average over 10 seasons. He won the Pacific League saves title three times, in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
In 59 games in the 2023 season, he recorded 2 wins, 3 losses, 39 saves, and an ERA of 1.57, while striking out 11.3 batters per 9 innings.
In the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March of this year, he took the mound in the top of the 8th inning against Korea and Japan and set off Lee Jung-hoo, Park Hae-min, and Kim Hyun-soo in a three-way strike.
San Diego also welcomed Go Woo-seok, the closer of the LG Twins in the KBO League.
Go Woo-seok agreed to a 2-year contract with a total value of 4.5 million dollars (about 5.9 billion won) through the posting system.
The annual salary in 2024 and 2025 is $1.75 million and $2.25 million, respectively.
If the mutual option is exercised, Go Woo-seok will receive an annual salary of $3 million in 2026.
If the option is not exercised, Go Woo-seok will receive a buyout amount of $500,000. Including incentive amounts from 2024 to 2026
he can receive up to $9.4 million. This is something that can motivate players.